Machine for operating upon heels



New. 27, 1923.

L. A. CASGRAIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON HEELS Original Filed Sept. 21, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Novl 27, 1923. 1,475,795

L. A. CASGRAIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON HEELS inal Filed Sept. 21, 1918 s Sheets-Sheet 2 MAE/VHF- Nov. 27', 1923.

L. A. CASGRAlN MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON HEELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 21 1918 N 5 f a ,1 A I! x positioning means Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UMTED STATES 1,475,295 PATENT orrics,

LOUIS A. CASGRAIN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOIR- 'iO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATEBSON, NEEV JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW] JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON Application filed September 21, 1918, Serial No. 255,124.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. OASGRAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of hlassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Operating upon ilcels, of which the following description,

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

The present invention is herein shown and described with particular reference to its application to machines for breasting heels before they are attached to shoes although in certain of its aspects the invention] is not restricted ,to such use. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention. it is shown as applied to a machine of the type disclosed and claimed in my prior application for Letters Patent ot the United States Serial No. 152,391, filed March 3, Hill.

Features oi the invention consist in a novel construction and organization of heel delivering means comprising an improved magazine for containing heels, with means by which the heels are automatically ted to an operating mechanism, for example, a breasting mechanism. In a machine of this character, it is important to provide a magazii e which is readily adjustable to accommodate heels of different sizes. In the or ganization shown, the magazine is arranged to be set tor heels of a given size by the insertion in the machine of a heel of that size, the adjustment of the magazine being maintained as longas heels of that size are supplied to the magazine. Preferably the two sides of the magazine are connected to insure equal and opposite movement of the magazine sides. In accordance with another ure oi the invention, heel guiding and is provided between which the heels are fed on the way to the operating mechanism, separation of which positioning means acts to position the sides otthe magazine for the size of heels being "ted. In the construction shown the guidingaind positioning means constitute extensions ot the sides of the magazine and are spring impelled toward each other and manual means is provided for separating them, the connections between the positioning Renewed January 22, 1923.

means and the sides of the magazine acting to effect setting' of the magazine for heels of the size of the heel located in the positioning means.

In the construction shown in my prior application above referred to, the heels are fed along a cutting block, which block is adjustable angularly to rary the inclination of the breasting cut relatively to the heel, and in that construction the magazine is mounted on the machine frame. It is de sirable that, when the block is adjusted angularly, the relation of the heels in the magazine to theblock rei'nain unchanged. Accordingly, as a feature of the present invention, the magazine is mounted for movement with the block so that the block is adjusted to vary the angular position of the block, the relation of the heels in the magazine to the block remains unchanged.

Another feature of the invention conists in an improved construction compris'. g supporting means for heels, a magazine arranged over the supporting means, and novel means for adjusting the portion of the magazine which isengaged by the breast ends of the heels to vary the space het veen that portion and the supporting means. As shown herein, the said portion oi the magazine comprises a plate held trictionally in place, which plate may he moved up or down by a screw to provide beneath it a space to accommodate the height of the heel being treated. A further feature of the invention consists in an improved guide for the heel, which guide is hinged to the above-men tioned plate at one end and to a heel clamping mechanism, with which themachine is provided, at its other end. This construction provides for adjustment of the guide coincidently with the adjustment of the plate. The clan'iping mechanism operates in time relation to the mechanism foroperating upon the heel to cause the guide to clamp the heel during the operation upon the heel.

Another feature ofthe invention consists in an improved clamp for the limits. The illustrated clamp has grooved members tor engaging the side edges or" the knife and means is provided 'for operating the grooved members and preferably each end of each member independently to up the knife.

A further feature of the invention consists in improved means for separating the chips from the heels as they are conducted away from the machine. As shown herein, a chute is provided having a longitudinally slatted bottom, the slats of which are spaced to allow chips which align with the slats to pass through the space between them. Furthermore, the slats of the chute are constructed and arranged to cause chips in the chute to turn into alignment with the openings between the slats and to fall through them while the heels pass down the chute. A deflector is also provided to cause the heels to be deflected laterally out of the chute and the deflector is spaced from the bottom of the chute to allow passage beneath it of any chips which have not passed between the slats. Preferably a second chute is provided beneath the slatted chute to receive the chips and conduct them away from the machine.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail to be referred to;

Fig. 3 is a detail in plan of parts shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the magazine and cutting block;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mechanism for effecting adjustment of the magazine;

Fig. 6 is a perspective sectional view of the knife and knife clamp showing in dotted lines the knife setting gage;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the knife setting gage;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the knife grinding gage;

Fig. 9 is a view from beneath of parts shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the chip separating heel chute.

The general organization of the machine and its operation are similar to that of the machine disclosed in my prior application above referred to and hence reference may be had to that application for explanation of parts not described in detail herein.

The frame of the machine is indicated by the numeral 2. A rigid support 4 secured to the machine frame carries at its upper end a block support 6 on which is a cutting block 7 held in place between upstanding portions of the support 6 by a set screw 8. The block support is pivoted at 9 to the support 4 which is slotted at 10. A cap screw 11 BX- tends through the slot 10 and is threaded in the block support 6. This construction affords means for varying the angular position of the block support and cutting block with reference to a reciprocating knife 12 mounted for vertical movement on a slide 1-3 in the machine frame. A pointer 14 carried by the block support 6 co-operates with graduations 16 on the support 4 so that the block support may be set in various predetermined angular positions. The graduations shown are 5 apart and are numbered consecutively. On the block support 6 is a bracket 20 which supports the magazine parts. The side portions of the magazine comprise plates 22, 23 shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 which are spaced apart to admit a stack of heels between them. The side plates 22, 23 have portions 24, 25 extending toward the knife which form positioning and guiding means for the heel as it is fed between them toward the knife. Mounted on the support 6 outside of the plate 22 is a rock shaft 26. On the opposite side outside of the plate 23 is a similar rock shaft 27 (Fig. 5). The rock shafts 26, 27 extend below the support and are connected for equal and opposite movement by gear segments 28, 30. A spring 32 holds the segments and shafts in one position of move ment against an adjustable stop comprising a. screw 34 threaded through a lug 36 on the support 6. The segment 28 is loose on its shaft 26 and below the segment is an arm 38 fixed to the shaft and having threaded through it an adjusting screw 40 which engages the segment 28 and serves as means for adjusting that segment relatively to its shaft 26 for a purpose to be later explained. The stop screw 34 preferably engages a lug 35 on the arm 38. The rock shaft 26 has two arms 42, 44 extending respectively toward the knife and away from the knife and the rock shaft 27 is provided with similar arms 46, 48. The arms 42, 46 are pivoted at 50, 52 respectively to ears formed on the portions 24, 25. The arm 44 is connected by a link 56 with an ear 57 on the opposite side plate 23 of the magazine and the arm 48 of the rock shaft 27 is connected by a link 58 with an car 59 on the side plate 22 of the magazine. The rock shaft 26 is provided with a handle 60 by which it and, through the segments 28, 30, also the rock shaft 27, may be rocked against the tension of the spring 32 to effect equal and opposite separation of the portions 24, 25 and also, through the links 56, 58, separation of the sides 22, 23 of the magazine. The lower portions of the side plates 22, 23 are guided for movement toward and from each other by a bar 62 extending from the rock shaft 26 to the rock shaft 27 and engaged by notches 64 on upstanding portions 66 of the plates. The upper portion of the side plate 22 is held in upright position and guided for movement toward and from the plate 23 by a U-shaped member 68 which has one arm engaging a hole in a part 7 0 of the bracket 20 and also a hole in a transverse portion of the bracket 20.

The other arm of the member 68 extends downwardly through a slotted lug 7 2 formed in an outturned portion of the side plate 22 and also lies behind a rearwardly bent tongue 73 formed on the plate 22. The side plate 28 is similarly held and guided.

This construction causes the upper portions of the magazine plates 22, 23 to remain parallel as they are moved toward and from each other.

To engage the rounded ends of the heels and hold them in the magazine, Ushaped members 80 are provided, one arm of each member being mounted in a split clamp 82 formed in an arm 8st of the bracket 20. The other arms of the members 80 may be swung toward and from each other to adapt the magazine for containing heels of varying lengths and are held frictionally by the clamps 82.

The breast ends of the heels engage a plate 88 which is spaced at its lower end from the cutting block '4' a distance somewhat greater than the height of the heels being breasted. This space is variable by sliding the plate 88 up and down. The plate 88 is frictionally held to a transverse portion 89 of the bracket 20 by means of a bolt 90 (Fig. 2) extending through a slot 02 of the portion 89. and secured in the plate 88. :letween the nut of the bolt 90 and the bracket is a spring 94 which frictionally holds the plate 88 to its support 89. At its upper end the plate 88 has a lug 96 which engages a groove in a screw 98 threaded into the portion 89 of the bracket 20 and adapted when turned to move the plate 88 up or down.

To set the magazine for the size of heels being breasted, the handle 60 is operated to separate the forwardly extending heel positioning and guiding portions 24, and a heel is inserted between them. The handle 60 is then released and the portions 24, 25 will he closed by the spring 32 against the heel. lVhen this is done, the construc tion is such that the side plates 22, 23 of the magazine will be set to receive heels of the same size as that of the heel between the portions 24:, 25 suficient clearance being provided to allow the heels to move freely up and down in the magazine. The magazine is now filled with heels. The heels are preferably arranged with their concave heel seat faces down and the upper face of the cutting block 7 is cylindrically convened substantially to fit the concavity of the heel seat face of the heels at their breast ends. The heel inserted to set the magazine, and subsequently the lowermost heel in the magazine, are fed toward the knife by a block 100 arranged to slide on the cutting block 7. The block 7 preferably has longitudinal grooves 101 formed in its edge faces which are engaged by suitable tongues 103 on the block 100 to form suitable guiding means for the block during its reciprocating movement. The block 100 is operated by a yoke lever 102 connected by links 104 to the block. The yoke lever is operated by mechanism similar to that disclosed in the prior application above referred to. This mechanism moves the block 100 to push a heel in front of it into position beneath the knife which is then given a downward. movement by means of a connecting rod and crank (not shown) to breast the heel. After this first cut occurs the block 100 is moved toward the knife a short distance to position the heel for a second or finishing out which then occurs. After this the block is retracted to allow the lowermost heel in the magazine to drop in front of it and the block is then advanced to position that heel under the knife.

When the knife 12 is gouge-shaped or convexed toward the heel it is desirable that the heels be presented by the heel positioning portions 24, 25 of the magazine centrally of the knife. The relative lateral position of the end portions 24, 25 which are next to the knife is changed by means of the screw 40 by turning which the relation of one of the segments relatively to its connected end portion may be varied and the other end portion shifted laterally in unison when a heel is between the end portions to cause the heel to be located centrally of the gougeshaped knife.

From the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and previously explained, it will be seen that with no heel between the portions 24, 25 and with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5, turning of the screw 40 inwardly will move the segment 28 relatively to its shaft 26 and cause movement of the segment 30 which, through the connections described, will move the portion 24: outwardly, the portion 25 remaining at rest. When, after such adjustment, a heel is thrust between the portions 24, 25, the position assumed by the heel will be different from theposition the heel would have assumed if inserted between the portions before such adjustment and the heel will be I displaced laterally toward the portion 2st by a distance equal to one-half the movement given to the portion 24 when the ad justment was effected. If the adjustment is made while the heel is between the pertions 24%, 25, the portions will be adjusted laterally in unison in either direction to lo cate the heel centrally of the knife.

To guide the top face of a heel toward the knife and to clamp it during the breasting operation, the following improved l the bar 108.

mechanism is provided. A plate is pivoted at 106 to the lower end of the plate 88 and is therefore adjustable with the plate 88 to vary the space between the plate 105 and the block 7. The opposite end of the late 105 is loosely connected to a frictionally operated clamping bar 108. This connection is effected by forming on the plate 105 upwardly and inwardly turned portions 107 which engage slots or notches 103 in the opposite sides of the bar 108. This connection enables the magazine and cutting block to be angularly adjusted without affecting the connection between the plate 105 and The bar 108 is operated to force the end of the plate 105 connected to it into engagement with a heel before the operation of the knife begins and to release the heel when the knife is raised. The bar 108 is guided for vertical movement in a projection 109 extending from the frame of the machine through an opening in the slide 13 which carries the knife. Movement of the bar is limited in either direction by adjustable stop collars 111 secured to the bar 108 above and below the projection 109. To ause the bar to be raised and lowered in timed relation to the knife, its upper end is square and projects through a box 113 secured to the knife slide 13. In the box 113 are suit-able friction blocks for frictionally holding the bar and causing it to be moved up and down with the knife between the limits prescribed by the collars 111.

The breasting knife 12 is held in an improved knife clamp mounted in a knife carrier formed as a projection on the vertical reciprocating knife slide 13. The projection 110 (Fig. 6) is hollow or box shaped and inside it are arranged two knife clamping jaws 112, 114 (Fig. 6) pivoted to the projection 110 at 116, 118 respectively. Grooves are formed in opposite faces of the jaws which grooves engage the side edges of the knife. The jaws are operated to clamp the knife by screws 120, 121 threaded through parallel walls formed on the projection 110 the screws being arranged to engage respectively the jaws 112, 114i. Preferably two screws are provided for each jaw, one screw being located near each end of each jaw, the screws for one jaw may be used only for adjusting the opening of the jaws, for example, the screws 121, the screws for the other jaw being used to release and clamp the knife.

It is important that the edge of the knife be always located in the same position relatively to the clamp irrespectively of the length of the knife which varies with different knives and with the same knife after grinding. Accordingly, a gage is provided for setting the knife with its edge in a predetermined position such. that when the knife operates the edge will just reach the cutting block 7 The gage is constructed as shown in Fig. 7 and consists preferably of a single casting having finished projections 122 in the form of rongs or hooks which engage recesses 124 (l ig. 1) milled in the back of the knife carrier 110. The gage has a single projection 126 which engages the bottom face of the knife carrier 110. A portion 130 of the gage extends beneath the knife and has a surface 132 shaped as shown to engage the edge of the knife. The surface 132 is formed to engage the knife edge only near its ends at the points 134-which preferably are outside the portion of the knife which cuts the heel. The gage is held in position during use by a handle portion 136, and the knife, while loose in the clamp, is allowed to rest on the surface 132, the screws 120 being then tightened to clamp the knife. After use the gage is released and, since the greater portion of the weight of the gage is toward the knife from the hooks 1 2. the gage will drop away from the machine and may be attached to the machine frame by a chain 138 so that it will hang out of the way when not in use and will be instantly available for use when required. After the knife is set and clamped, abutment screws 139 are adjusted against the knife to take the end thrust.

The pivot 9 of the cutting block support is arranged directly under the grooves in the knife clamp and in substantial alinement with the upper surface of the block 7. Therefore, when a flat knife is used, variations of the angular position of the block by the adjustment 10, 11 will not alter the relation the edge of the knife to the block. If, however, a gouge shaped knife is used as is frequently desirable, such adjustments of the block will alter the relation of the edge of the knife to the block and cause it to engage the block only at its center or at its ends according to the direction of change of adjustment; that is, a curved knife ground to fit the block when the block is in one angular position will not fit the block. when the angular position of the block is changed. Accordingly, a gage is provided to facilitate the grinding of the knife, or of a knife templet, and to indicate the shape which the knife edge must have in order to fit the block when the block is in a given position of angular adjustment. The gage as shown in Fig. 8 consists of a member having two pairs of lugs 152, 15 1 each pair being spaced apart to receive a side edge of the knife and allow it to rest against the member 150. Near one end of the member 150 is pivoted a member 156 by a screw 158 which may be tightened to hold the mem bers 150, 156 in adjusted relation. The member 156 has a surface .160 which has the same cylindrical curvature as that of the block 7. On the surface 160 is a pin 162 liT-O to locate the side edge of the knife opposite to that engaged by the lugs 152, 1. On the member 156 is an index mark 16 1 (Fig. 9) which co-operates with the graduations 166 on the end of the member 150. graduations 166 correspond to the graduations16 for setting the angle of the cutting block in the machine. Supposing the cutting block to be set with the pointer 14 opposite number 2 of the graduations 16, the gage member 156 will be set with its lIlClG-I; mark 164 opposite number 2 of the graduations 166. Now when the knife is ground to fit the gage, that is so that when its side edge is between the lugs 152, 154 and against the member 150, its edge will lit the surface 160 of the gage member 156, the knife, when set in the knife clamp, will fit the surface of the block 7. When the knife thus ground is located in the clamp by means of the other gage 132, all portions of the knife edge will out against the surface of the block without cutting into it. The member 150 may be provided at its top end with a notch 161 having a hole or clearance 163 at its bottom. This notch is used as a gage to determine when the knife edge is ground to the proper angle,

The present invention provides improved means for separating the chips and heels after the breasting operation. Two chutes are provided, an upper or heel chute 170 anda lower or chip chute 172. The chute 170 has a slotted bottom to permit the detached chips to fall into the chip chute 172. Some of the chips, however, may cling to the heels or enter thechute 170 in the wrong position to fall between the slots into the chute 172. The chute 170 designed to separate these chips from the heels. The bottom of the chute is made of slats 1'74 and the alternate slats are provided with means to retard movement of the chip, for example recesses 176 which recesses are in the form of transverse grooves preferably inclined to the direction of extent of the slats. Supposing a chip to be disposed transversely of the slats, it will engage at one portion a smooth slat and at another portion a recessed slat and when one portion of the chip, in its passage down the chute, engages a recess, that portion will be retarded and the other portion will swing about the'retarded portion causing the chip to be disposed in alincment with the space between the slats and to fall through into the chip chute 172; It

is of course within the invention to provide other means for retarding the chips. Th lower portion of the chute 170 is provided with a deflector 178 which is spaced from the slats of the chute a distance which will allow chips but not heels to pass beneath it. Therefore, when the heels and chips, if any,

reach the deflector, the chips will pass be- The neath it while the heels will be deflected laterally out of the chute into a side chute 180 having a solid bottom and thence will fall into a suitable receptacle.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an adjustable magazine for containing heels, means for operating upon the heels fed from the magazine to the operating means, said magazine being arranged for adjustment to the size of heel being operated upon by equal and opposite movement of the sides of the magazine, and means for so adjusting the sides of the magazine comprising a rock shaft on each side of the magazine having an arm, a link from each arm to the opposite side of the magazine and means for turning the shafts.

2. In a machine of the class described, the eonfibination of a magazine having side portions arranged for movement toward and from each other, means for operating on the heels, means for feeding the heels from the magazine to the operating means, and means comprising rock shafts connected for equal and opposite movement and a link from each shaft to the opposite side portion of the magazine to adjust the magazine for the size of heels being treated by rocking of the shafts.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazine to contain heels having side portions. arranged for movement toward and from each other, means for operating on the heels fed from the maga zine to the operating means, means for equally and oppositely moving the lower portions of the magazine, and connections comprising U-shaped rods having one arm mounted for rotation and the other arm engaging the upper portions of the sides of the magazine at two points to cause those portions to remain in substantial parallelism when the lower portions of the magazine are moved.

-fl. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazine to contain heels having side portions arranged for movement toward and from each other, means for operating on the heels fed from the magasine to the operating means, means for equally and oppositely adjusting the sides of the magazine for different widths of heels, and a pairof independent rods arranged adjustablv to engage the rear ends of the heels in the magazine.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination ofa magazine having its side portions connected for equal. andopposite movement to vary the size of themagazine, means for operating upon the heels, positioning means between the magazine and the operating means comprising members adapted to be separated and held apart by the insertion of a heel between them, and connections between the positioning means and the magazine to cause the magazine to be set for the size of heel which has been in troduced into the positioning means.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazine to contain heels having its side portions connected for equal and opposite movement to vary tne size of the magazine, u'ieans for operating upon the heels, guiding means adapted to receive heel. and connections between the guiding means and the magazine for effecting a setting oi the magazine to receive heels of the size of the heel in the guiding means.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for operatinsg,- on a heel, a magazine, means for receiving heels successively from the magazine for delivery to the operating means. and means arranged for angular adjustment to vary the relation of the heel to the operating means, said magazine being mounted for movement with said angularly adjustable means to maintain unchanged the relation of the heels in the magazine to said means in different angular positions thereof.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating knife, a cutting block arranged for adjustment to vary its angular relation to the knife, and a magazine mounted for movement with the block to maintain unchanged the relation oi? the magazine to the block in different angular positions of the block.

9. In a machine of the class described, the con'bination of a reciprocating breasting knife, a cutting block along which the heels are fed to the breasting knife, supporting means for the block arranged for adjustment to vary the angular relation of the heel to the breasting knife, and a magazine mounted for movement with the block support to maintain unchanged the relation of the heels in the magazine to the cutting block in different angular positions of the block.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, means for supporting heels for delivery breast foremost to the operating means, a magazine to supply heels to the first-named means, said magazine having a portion to engage the breast end only of the heels constructed and arranged for vertical movement to vary the space between it and the supporting means to accommodate the height of heel which is being delivered to the operating means, a presser plate hinged to the movable portion of the magazine, and means for operating the free end of the plate to clamp and unclamp the heel.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, means for supporting heels for heels constructed and arranged for vertical movement to vary the height of the opening between it and the support to accommodate the size of heel which is being delivered to the operating means, a stud on said breast engaging portion, and a spring on the stud held under tension frictionally to hold said portion in position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, means for supporting heels for delivery breast foremost to the operating means, a magazine to supply heels to the firstnamed means, said magazine having a portion to engage the breast ends of the heels constructed and arranged for vertical movement to vary the height of the open ing between it and the support to accommodate the size of heel which is being delivered to the operating means, and a screw ar ranged between said portion and a fixed portion of the machine for adjusting said portion of the magazine.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, means for supporting the heels for delivery to the operating means, a magazine for containing the heels and having a portion adjustable to vary the space between it and the supporting means to accommodate heels of different heights, and a guide for the heels pivoted to said adjustable portion at one end for adjustment therewith.

14. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for containing heels, means for operating upon the heels, means for feeding heels from the magazine to the operating means, a guide arranged over the top of the heel being fed, said guide being pivoted in the magazine at one end, and means for operating the other end of the guide in timed relation to the operating means to clamp the heel during the operation upon the heel.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, a block along which the heels are fed to the operating means, a magazine for containing the heels to be fed, a heel guide connected at one end to the magazine and beneath which a heel is fed to the operating means, and means for operating the other end of the guide to clamp the heel during the action of the operating means.

16. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for containing heels having an end portion adjustable to allow heels of differ ent heights to be fed beneath it, means for operating upon the heels, means for feeding to the adjustable portion of the magazine for adjustment therewith, and means for operating the other end of the guide to clamp the heel.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, a block along which the heels are fed to the operating means, means for feeding the heels one by one, a magazine for containing the heels to be fed, a bar arranged to be moved up and down in timed relation to the operating means, and a heel.

guide pivoted to the magazine and connected to the bar, said guide overlying the fed heel to guide it to the operating means and being operated by the bar to clamp the heel during the action of the operating means.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, a block along which the heels are fed to the operating means, means for feeding the heels, a magazine for containing the heels to be fed, a heel guide pivoted at one end to the magazine and beneath which the heels are fed one at a time, and friction means actuated by the operating means to force the other end of the guide against the heel duringthe action of the operating means.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon heels, a block along which the heels are fed to the operating means, means for feeding the heels, a magazine for containing the heels to be fed, a bar arranged to be moved up and down in timed relation to the operating means, and a heel guide loosely connected at one end to the magazine and at the other end to the bar, said guide overlying the heels to guide them to the operating means and having one end operated by the bar to clamp the heels during the action of the operating means.

20. In, a machine of the class described, a knife clamp comprising grooved members mounted for movement toward each other, said grooves being adapted to receive the opposite side edges of the" knife, and means actin against the members at points opposite to the grooves for independently operating said members to clamp the knife between them.

21. lin a machine of the class described, a knife clamp comprising grooved members mounted for movement toward each other, said grooves being adapted to receive the opposite side edges of the knife, and independent means adjacent to the ends of each of said grooved members to effect n'iovement of them toward each other to clamp the knife.

22. In a machine of the class described, a breasting knife, a knife clamp comprising movable members having grooves adapted to engage the opposite side edges of the knife other than the cutting edge to clamp the knife in a transverse direction, and independent means acting on the members substantially in the plane of the knife for moving the grooved members toward each other to clamp the knife.

23. In a machine of the class described, a breasting knife, a knife clamp comprising movable members having grooves adapted to engage the opposite side edges of the knife other than the cutting edge to clamp the knife in a transverse direction. and independent screws acting adjacent to the ends of one of the members to force it to ward the other member.

24. In a machine for of boots and shoes a magazine for such parts having guides for a stack of parts between which there is relative movement laterally of the stack to accommodate stacks of parts of different dimensions, and means constructed and arranged to be set apart by the insertion of one of the parts of the same dimensions as those in the stack to cause said guides to be separated a distance operating on parts greater than the said dimensions to ensure free descent of the stack by gravity.

25. In a machine for operating upon heel parts of boots and shoes, a magazine for containing a stack of said parts comprising guides arranged for relative movement laterally of the stack to accommodate parts of different dimensions, and means arranged to be set apart by insertion of a part of the same dimension as those in the stack and acting automatically to position said guides a distance apart greater than said dimension to ensure free descent of the stack in the magazine.

26. In a machine for operating upon heels, a magazine having guides for a stack of heels between which there is relative movement laterally of the stack of heels in the magazine to accommodate heels of dif 'ierent dimensions, means constructed and arranged to be set apart by a heel of the same dimensions as those in the magazine, and connections from said means to cause said guides to be spaced apart a distance greater than said dimension to ensure free descent of the stack of heels by gravity.

2'7. In a machine for breasting unattached heels, the combination of breading means a cutting block. a chute to receive heels and chips nu the cutting block, and means in the chute for separating the chips from the heels.

28. In a machine for breasting unattached heels, the combination of cutting means, a cutting block, and a chute to receive heels and chips from the cutting block, saidchute having a slatted bottom, the alternate slats being constructed and arranged to cause retardation of the portion of a chip engaging them and to swing it into alignment with a space between the slats.

29. In a machine for breasting unattached heels, the combination of cutting means, a cutting block, and a chute to receive heels and chips from the cutting block, the bottom of the chute comprising slats provided with recesses, a recess of one slat being arranged opposite a smooth portion of another slat.

30. In a machine for breasting unattached heels. the combination of cutting means, a cutting block, and a chute to receive hee and chips from the cutting block, the bot tom of the chute being composed of slats spaced apart, the alternate slats being rough ened to cause the chip which engages two slats to be retarded a the portion engaging the roughened slat and to move relatively faster at the portion engaging the smooth slat to cause the chips to align with the opening between the slats and to fall through the opening.

31. In a machine for breasting unattached heels, the combination of cutting-means, a cutting block, and chute to receive heels and chips from the cutting block, the bottonr of the chute being composed of slats and the alternate slats having transverse grooves arranged obliquely to the direction of move ment of the chips and heels down the chute.

32. In a machine of the class described, a chute adapted to receive heels and the chips separated from the heels in the breasting operation, said chute being provided with a deflector spaced from the bottom of the chute a less distance than the height of the heel and adapted to deflect the heels While the chips are allowed to pass beneath the deflector.

83. In a machine for breasting unattached heels, the combination of breasting means, a cutting block, a chute to receive heels and chips from the cutting block, and a deflector in the chute to cause the heels to be passed out of theside of the chute, said deflector being spaced from the bottom of the chute to allow the chips to pass without being deflected.

34. In a machine of 'the class described, the combination of a laterally curved knife arranged for reciprocation longitudinally to treat heel fed to it, positioning and guiding means between which the heel is located. arms connected one to each guiding means and to each other for equal and opposite movement, and means for adjusting one of the arms relatively to one of the guiding means to cause the heel to be presented to the knife centrally of the lateral curve of the knife.

35. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a laterally curved breasting knife, heel positioning means engaging each side of the heel, connections for effecting equal and opposite movements of said positioning means, and means for relatively adjusting one of said positioning means and its connections to cause a heel. in said positioning means to be presented centrally of the knife curve.

36 In a machine of the class described. means for cutting a heel, a cutting block along which the heel is fed to the cutting means, a feed block arranged to slide on the cutting block to feed the heel to the cutting means, and tongue and groore connections between the feed block and the cutting block to guide the feed block in its heel feeding movement.

37. In a heel breasting machine, the combination of a reciprocating knife, means for feeding a heel to the knife, a clamp operated frictionally by movement of the knife to clamp the heel, and a guide pivoted to the clamp to guide a heel in. its movement beneath the clamp.

38. In a heel breasting machine, the combination of a reciprocating knife carrier, a knife on the carrier, a clamp for holding the heel while being breasted, friction means on the knife carrier to move the clamp toward and from the heel, and guiding means connected to the clamp to prevent upward dis placement of the heel in its movement toward the knife.

39. In a heel breasting machine, the combination of a reciprocating knife carrier, a knife on the carrier, a heel support, a clamp operative to hold the heel on the support during the operative stroke of the knife, and guiding means pivoted to the clamp and arranged to engage the top face of the heel.

lf), In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for operating upon a heel, means for engaging the breasts and sides of a stack of heels adjacent to the corners of he heels, independent means to engage the curved ends of the heels, means for equally and oppositely adjusting laterally of the heels the means which engage the sides of the heels, means permitting adjustment of the means engaging the curved ends of the heels longitudinally of the heels, and means for feeding the lowermost heel in the stack to the operating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS A. GASGRAIN. 

